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Root Preferred custom rom

S

stocklobster

Member
Hi,
I have a rooted HTC m8 with TWRP recovery. I am unable to use OTA system updates and I seem to remember when I asked forum members about this a while ago, someone suggested that along with numerous other benefits such as bloatware removal, if I flash a custom ROM then the developers usually provide the updates as and when it's necessary. As there seems to be a great deal of choice in terms of custom ROMs, I was wondering if someone could advise what their preferred ROM is. I do not currently have s-off but have read that this is not necessarily an issue.
Still learning so sorry if this is basic stuff.
Cheers

SL
 
S-off is only a security off

http://m.androidcentral.com/s-htc-one-m8-paves-way-further-hackery

If you want s-off

http://theunlockr.com/2014/05/07/gain-s-htc-one-m8-video/

I think custom ROMs are better you can do a few things more I just hope u have a back up .

Custom ROMs

Pacman
Mokee ---> China base ROM get gapps not mokee unless your China market.
CyanogenMod
Parandroid ---> works very good on m8
Slimkat

Just make sure you get the gapps that goes with the custom ROM you downloaded. The gapps will give you the Google play files and access to Google without you will not see a Google play store .
 
Hi,
I did try the s off solution using the unlocker link a while ago but one of the commands kept failing.
I'm backed up using titanium.
 
The gapps come with the ROM when u download a little section or big print saying GAPPS DOWNLOAD

The backup has nothing to do with s-off or the titanium backup
 
Sorry. I mis-read your post as 'that was the error' rather than 'what was the error.'
As soon as I started the commands line 'chmod..' it would automatically complete the command incorrectly
 
Do you have paid tb or regular . if paid Long press on the notification go to app info and then uncheck the notification box that has auto sync .
 
For a better understanding of whats what with root, check these threads out:
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html

If you need any rooting advice or want a refresher on the unlocking process this is a great resource: http://androidforums.com/one-m8-all-things-root/845182-htc-one-m8-root-thread.html

Also here: http://androidforums.com/one-m8-all...-all-things-root-guide-updated-5-30-14-a.html

Now for S-off (Security Off) you should read this:

Back in the days of the OG EVO having s-off was always the goal when you rooted a phone. But with HTC locking the bootloader and a tool to unlock it, we do not need to have s-off. HTC has given us a backdoor so to speak and enabled us to leave s-on and still root the phone. So what is the difference? Well "s" is your security and having s-on means you have your securities turned on. With s-off, you will have your securities turned off so that you can set permissions to read and write onto the system partitions, think flashing or installing of roms. "S" is like setting administrator rights on the computer.

So why should we care about getting s-off, if HTC lets us unlock the bootloader? Well with s-on there are certain things you can and cannot flash to your phone. Radios, and kernels do not get flashed like s-off phones. There are ways to flash them, but the procedure is different.
Click to expand...

S-off allows you to flash to any of the partitions as you see fit, S-on does not allow this. Also once you are S-off, you can flash .zip packages from the bootloader without HTC's secret verification key. With S-on you need a signed package. ;)

For achieving S-off via Firewater, check this thread out: http://androidforums.com/one-m8-all-things-root/839885-s-off-here.html

If you want to give Firewater another go, we can help you get the commands correct, unless your device is incompatible with Firewater. If this is the case you'll need to use Sunshine, which is a $25 all inclusive paid app.

Let us know where you want to go, and welcome to the M8 root club!! :D
 
thanks for the post.
I tried the firewater method but as stated in a previous post, I got stuck on this line of code:

chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/firewater

I'm clearly not an expert when it comes to this stuff but I'm reasonably computer literate and am good at following instructions so I was surprised when it didn't work. you said you might be able to help with the code- any suggestions would be appreciated. another forum user suggested upgrading the TB app to pro and using the additional features so I was going to try that method.

cheers
SL
 
stocklobster said:
thanks for the post.
I tried the firewater method but as stated in a previous post, I got stuck on this line of code:

chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/firewater

I'm clearly not an expert when it comes to this stuff but I'm reasonably computer literate and am good at following instructions so I was surprised when it didn't work. you said you might be able to help with the code- any suggestions would be appreciated. another forum user suggested upgrading the TB app to pro and using the additional features so I was going to try that method.

cheers
SL
Click to expand...

For Fire water to work you need to be sure you are rooted, with SuperSU, and a custom recovery, preferably TWRP.

Under your developer settings menu, check "Stay Awake". This will help keep the ADB connection working while the exploit does it's magic. Then after you're done uncheck it. :)

For the line of code you're having issues with the code should read:

Code: 
chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/firewater/data/local/tmp/firewater

I bet if you try that line right there it goes through. ;)

Titanium Backup has nothing to do with firewater working or not, so updating to the Pro version is not required. Having Titanium Backup Pro is worth the purchase to me, plus it supports the developer. :)
 
yes I'm rooted and am using TWRP recovery

thanks for the stay awake tip- I certainly hadn't done that.
what was strange was every time I got to typing out 'chmod..', the command auto completed itself with the wrong line which was a little confusing.
i'll try again with those suggestions.

in relation to the TB, I might have misunderstood.

also, whilst you're online, I asked at the beginning of this thread if users had any preferences for custom ROMs. any suggestions??? ultimately I'm looking to remove all the bloatware, find a way to install the updates as they become available (my phone frustratingly reminds me every 4 hours there is OTA radio stability update available at the moment) and explore android in more detail.

i'll get round to purchasing the pro version even if it is to support the developer:)

thanks again
 
It should be noted that there are two general flavors of custom roms - sense and AOSP.

Most all AOSP roms are based off cyanogenmod's work so any problems cyanogenmod has are transferred to AOSP roms. As various problems are fixed updates are posted on that rom's thread with a changelog. In addition some M8 phones work fine and others have a glitch on the same rom variant.

The various problems being encountered are posted (somewhere -use the search function for that thread to find them) in the various threads for that rom.

Generally sense roms are more stable earlier in a phones life cycle than AOSP/AOKP roms. The only way to know how good a rom is, unfortunately, is to flash it yourself on your phone and use it.

Though said a million times it's worth repeating - MAKE A NANDROID BEFORE YOU FLASH ANYTHING. This way if you get into trouble or find the new rom you're trying out isn't for you you can nandroid back to what you had that was working.
 
thanks cquinn
I noticed you have an HTC m8 (or I assumed you did given the htc m8 s-off at the bottom of your post). did you use the firewater method for s-off?
cheers
sl
 
stocklobster said:
thanks so much
At the risk of sounding like a fool, is the name of the rom' viper'??
cheers
sl
Click to expand...

Yes, yes it is. :)

No, you do not sound like a fool. We all start out in the same place, no fools around here. :)

It's a really good rom, you'll like it. ;)

On a side note when you go to install it, the rom uses an installer called Aroma. It will walk you through the installation process, but the touch interface is a little buggy for the Sprint devices. In order to make a selection, you can use the volume up and down keys and press power to select, or press the selection with one finger, and then press again with another. It sounds weird, but it works. :p
 
Thanks for all your tips- really helpful. I have to say this forum is fantastic. I've never had a question unanswered. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute in a more positive fashion when I finally know what I'm doing....
 
stocklobster said:
thanks cquinn
I noticed you have an HTC m8 (or I assumed you did given the htc m8 s-off at the bottom of your post). did you use the firewater method for s-off?
cheers
sl
Click to expand...

Yep - used firewater. Rooting has gotten sooo much easier than in the old Evo og days.

I agree with Granite1 - you can't go wrong with Viper. I use it as my daily driver
 
hi guys,
finally got round to following the suggestions above for s-off but keep getting the following in the command window after the final line of code (chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/firewater/data/local/tmp/firewater):


'Unable to open /data/local/tmp/firewater/data/local/tmp/firewater: Not a directory
10:root@htc_m8:/ #'

any thoughts???
thanks in advance
 
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